Essays on trade and navigation in five parts / by Sir Francis Brewster, Kt.

Of the New-found-land Fishing.

THE Name of a Joint-Stock and Com∣pany in Trade, is in general terms thought injurious to the several Interests of the Nation, but in some Cases it is allowed by

all, That Companies are absolutely necessary; and if in any, it seems to be so for the Fishing of New-found-land, which was once the most considerable Trade and Nursery for Seamen of this Nation.

How it came to be lost by us, and taken up by the French, is visible, and chiefly since the Restoration of Charles the Second, in whose Reign it was complained of, and Petitions from the West-Countrey-men to retrieve it, and secure them from the growing Encroach∣ments of the French, daily made upon the Fish∣ing of this Nation; but no Care was taken, the French Interest being then prevalent at Court.

The Island of New-found-land is as much the Right of the Crown, as any Foreign Planta∣tion; nor have the French the least pretence to it.

But since they have got footing in it, no Private Undertakers are able to contest it with them; nor if the Government should dispossess them, would Private Undertakers be able to secure and maintain the Place and Trade.

The French have now Forts there, and send such Numbers of Ships Yearly, as is little less than a Warlike Effort added to their Trade; and by the Fishing they have raised their Sea∣men, and so became formidable at Sea, all their other Navigation not employing one fourth of the Seamen their Fishing of New-found-land and Canady doth.

And as the French have grown great in their Trade and Navigation by this Fishing, so hath

England by the Loss of it abated in both, to the weakning and Poverty of the Nation.

If the Strength and Security of this Nation lies in the Naval Force, it may be thought that which makes and employs Seamen can∣not be bought too dear, but deserves the great∣est Encouragement; and then the Fishing of New-found-land would be as much consider'd, and as well preserved from Foreign Encroach∣ment as our other Plantations, where none are admitted to Trade but the Subjects of Eng∣land.

It cannot be denied, however some may apprehend, but the Foreign Plantations add to the Strength and Treasure of the Nation, even in that of People, which is generally thought our Plantations abroad consume; but if it were considered, That by taking off one use∣less person, for such generally go abroad, we add Twenty Blacks in the Labour and Manu∣factories of this Nation, that Mistake would be removed.

But whatever the Advantages of our Foreign Plantations are to England, this of New-found-land Fishing will be much more, for that by it there will be Riches gain'd out of the Sea, without the Expence of any Foreign Commo∣dities; but it is not so in the Foreign Planta∣tions.

By this Fishing there will be no person, on∣ly some few to keep the Forts, taken out of the Kingdom; nor any fed or cloathed with the Product of other Parts, but all they con∣sume will be of the Growth and Manufactory of the Nation.

And this Fishing of New-found-land will be supported entirely with the Product of the Nation, which no other Trade is; so will the Product of this Fishing bring in more Bul∣lion than any other Trade can: Whereas the Product of our Foreign Plantations is greatest part consumed in the Kingdom, and that adds nothing to the Riches of the Nation.

And that which is not the least considerable in this Undertaking, is, That whereas in all our other Plantations abroad our men are em∣ployed in labour on shore, and so of no use in time of Naval War, this Plantation of New-found-land will be all Seamen, and most of them at home once a year, and may soon be to the Number of 10000 Men; which may be thought a greater Strength to the Nation than a Land-Army of thrice the number; with this advantage, that Seamen are always readier for Service, and yet of no Charge to the Go∣vernment until they are in it.

And to sum up all in that which is the Se∣curity as well as Treasure of England, by this Fishing there may be added Thirty Sail of Men of War always ready for the Service of the Nation.

It may perhaps be expected, That after tel∣ling what mighty things may be done by this Fishing, I should lay down a Scheme how it may be made practicable: But as what I have here said is no more than Hints, on which bet∣ter Heads may enlarge, so I must own my want of Assurance to prescribe Rules and Methods for so great an Undertaking, espe∣cially

at a Time when the Supreme Council of the Nation are sitting, before whom I lay these Essays, as Suppliants do their Petitions, to be consider'd of. In that nature I shall al∣so further submit some Particulars, which I humbly conceive necessary for the Establishing this Fishery.

I conceive that out of the National Bank before propos'd, must arise a Fund for this Un∣dertaking, and such as to Build and Purchase a Hundred Sail of Ships, from 100 to 300 Tun, and to carry Guns according to their Burthen, for every Ten Tun a Gun.

That there be at the Company's Charge Ten Third Rates, Ten Fourth Rates, Five Fifth Rates, and Five Sixth Rates, Mann'd and Gunn'd as Ships of War. The Use of these Ships, and Charge of maintaining them to the Advantage of the Company, shall be made out, if demanded.

That tho these Ships shall be built by Eng∣lish Carpenters, yet not by English Timber; it being too evident that there will be want of that for the Navy.

That there be Forts and Plantations esta∣blished in New-found-land, for Defence and Security of the Place.

That no Spanish or French Salt be used in saving their Fish, there being a way to save that Expence.

The Design and Advantage of this Trade being singular from any Trade yet in this Na∣tion, That there shall be no Use or Con∣sumption of any thing, but the Product and Manufactory of the Nation.

That in regard there will be 20000 Persons one way or other Employed in this Trade, and considering the want of People already in this Kingdom; That a Statute may be made to take out of Prisons such Persons as are kept for small Debts, Fees, &c. of which sort Thousands Perish in Goals.

And that the same Provision be made for Criminals not guilty of Murther.

A Shaved Head and a Chain would be a greater Terror than a Gallows, and be a more lasting Example than the Execution of an Hour.

It seems also a Punishment to the innocent for the nocent, that a man should be lost to the Nation for an Offence done to a private Person, and the Sufferer have no Reparation for what he hath lost; whereas if the Offender were kept to Work during his Life, some Re∣paration might be made to the Person Injured, and a certain Gain made to the Nation by the Work of a man; and this way of Punish∣ing Felons would bring more to Punishment than Death doth, for that many chuse ra∣ther to let Felons escape, than Prosecute where their Life is in danger.

That all such Offenders as are now Tran∣sported, or have License to go for Foreign Parts from Ireland, of the Irish Nation, be sent to New-found-land, by which means they would be made useful and of profit to this Nation; whereas by their going to Foreign Parts they are enabled to do mischief, and so it hath been found in all Rebellions of that People, they

returning back Experienced Commanders and Soldiers, which hath not been the least encou∣ragement to them in all their Rebellions.

This Disposition of the faulty Irish, will not only be a Gain to this Nation, but also a Se∣curity in taking away one handle for future Rebellions, and make them, in some mea∣sure, Hostages for their Brethren in Ireland.

It may be thought a mistake in those who think it a good expedient to send the Irish to serve Foreign Princes, rather than venture them at Home; great part of the Common People are said to be Peaceable and easily led into Discipline, and nothing but want forceth them to Disorder; such are to be valued as a Stock in a Kingdom, where the Country is almost waste for want of Inhabitants; and for such as are faulty, they being sent where Labourers are wanting, and methods taken to keep them at work, they will be of good use; the Banishing of the Moors out of Spain is a lasting monument of ill Conduct, sufficient to warn us of the like mistake; if a living Dog be better than a dead Lyon, it may be thought the worst of Men are better than none; good Laws and Discipline may make Bad men use∣ful in a Commonwealth, but no Human Law can Create them. There are many other things that attend this Undertaking, which in Time and Place may be offered.